One car fits all, or comfy cruiser and sunny day weapon?
Discussion
Multiple cars is the way to go I believe. My Caterham is pretty hard to beat as a track car so this and a CLS or similar would cover pretty much all the bases for me.
Stupidly I recently bought a Z4 (for daily driver duties) though leaving me with 3 cars and a total of 6 seats. Now I need to convince the girlfriend to replace her daily driver with something that will tow.
Stupidly I recently bought a Z4 (for daily driver duties) though leaving me with 3 cars and a total of 6 seats. Now I need to convince the girlfriend to replace her daily driver with something that will tow.
CorvetteConvert said:
An E92 M3 just a faster 320D. FFS, you do hear some crap.
I suppose a GT3RS is just a faster Beetle.
That's a bit of an extreme reaction! "A GT3RS is just a faster 997 Carrera" would have been a more accurate parallel statement.I suppose a GT3RS is just a faster Beetle.
I don't have a link handy, but there's a brilliant PDF book on the M3's technical differences to the standard 3 series out there somewhere. Likewise for the Porsche, Paul Frere's book is equally detailed.
RobM77 said:
CorvetteConvert said:
An E92 M3 just a faster 320D. FFS, you do hear some crap.
I suppose a GT3RS is just a faster Beetle.
That's a bit of an extreme reaction! "A GT3RS is just a faster 997 Carrera" would have been a more accurate parallel statement.I suppose a GT3RS is just a faster Beetle.
I don't have a link handy, but there's a brilliant PDF book on the M3's technical differences to the standard 3 series out there somewhere. Likewise for the Porsche, Paul Frere's book is equally detailed.
CorvetteConvert said:
BS. The person who made the original comment made a very valid point, plus I know people with one car who are only able to run one car due to financial constraints. My son in law and my tennis buddy to name just two and there are many others who are in the same boat. One size fits all because money says so.
You may not know anyone who is restricted to one car but they are out there, especially in these days of cut backs and redundancies. I should perhaps have made the question IDEALLY would you have one car fits all or several cars to cover all bases.
Nope, I don't agree. As I indicated, it isn't about the quantum, it's about the choice. Whether the choice relates to choosing between having:- You may not know anyone who is restricted to one car but they are out there, especially in these days of cut backs and redundancies. I should perhaps have made the question IDEALLY would you have one car fits all or several cars to cover all bases.
a Ferrari 360 and XF 3.0d, or an AMG S class
a Westfield and Golf Match, or a Skoda Octavia VRS
an MR2 and Focus (shed), or a Fiesta ST
or any other permutations....
If you can afford to choose 'one car fits all' rather than buying a car for transport necessity, you can also afford to choose 2 cheaper cars that are more focused. Remembering that this is 'Pistonheads' a site for motoring enthusiasts, then the choice relates more to which route brings you more pleasure, than to how much money is actually spent.
Edited by The Surveyor on Tuesday 10th November 16:14
ORD said:
RobM77 said:
CorvetteConvert said:
An E92 M3 just a faster 320D. FFS, you do hear some crap.
I suppose a GT3RS is just a faster Beetle.
That's a bit of an extreme reaction! "A GT3RS is just a faster 997 Carrera" would have been a more accurate parallel statement.I suppose a GT3RS is just a faster Beetle.
I don't have a link handy, but there's a brilliant PDF book on the M3's technical differences to the standard 3 series out there somewhere. Likewise for the Porsche, Paul Frere's book is equally detailed.
The Surveyor said:
If you can afford to choose 'one car fits all' rather than buying a car for transport necessity, you can also afford to choose 2 cheaper cars that are more focused.
True on the affordability but I have been put off the two car route by lack of garage and/or parking space.CorvetteConvert said:
An E92 M3 just a faster 320D. FFS, you do hear some crap.
It was a flippant comment and not meant to suggest that they are both the same, it's just that if you used one every single day, day in, day out, trudging through grey drizzly traffic, on the same old commute the 'specialness' of the M3 would soon wear off.The Surveyor said:
CorvetteConvert said:
An E92 M3 just a faster 320D. FFS, you do hear some crap.
It was a flippant comment and not meant to suggest that they are both the same, it's just that if you used one every single day, day in, day out, trudging through grey drizzly traffic, on the same old commute the 'specialness' of the M3 would soon wear off.What I will repeat about the E92 M3 specifically though is that most of the time if you're not using the power and handling (e.g. motorway or dual carriageway use), it is noisier than a 320d (mainly tyre roar) and doing less than half the mpg (my friend with an M3 averages 26mpg on long motorway runs, and my 320d averages just over 58 on fancy diesel or 54mpg on normal diesel). This (together with tyre and servicing costs) lends you to a mileage based decision, but for me on my own annual mileage the money I save by owning a 320d instead of an M3 more than pays for my track car (a 2-Eleven up until August this year and now a Formula Renault, and obviously both of those are much faster, more fun and more involving to drive than an M3 on track). The cost of a decent M3 is also the same cost as my 320d plus the cost of my track car, so it's a direct comparison in lots of ways.
This was a very real comparison that I did a few years ago when questioning my own decisions. For me I made the right choice, but it's not the right choice for everyone, I fully understand that some people may be happier in the M3 every day. It's mainly my interest in track driving that drove my decision.
RobM77 said:
I don't wish to be contrary, but I used an Elise as my everyday car for three years and I must admit the specialness never did wear off. I frequently reminded myself what a great car it was, even on wet Monday mornings, and that didn't change when it became just a weekend car for the other 5 years of ownership.
It's what works for the individual. For me and my 100 mile per day, busy A1 commute, my Volvo V60 D2 was bought as purely as 'transport', it was never expected to be special, and it never has been. In fact it's been quite dull in it's metronomic reliability and efficiency. It would be a shame if I'd try do that in an Elise.Given that the Volvo is automotive novocaine, it makes driving the Vantage / Maserati at the weekend a real joy.
I'm in the two cars camp - sports car and hot hatch/fast estate is my ideal combination. I've tried running one, more expensive, car, it my case it was skewed more to the sports car side, which was fine as a daily driver, but ran into limitations when I needed a more practical car. Now I'm running a more focussed sportscar and a practical car, it costs a bit more in insurance etc, but I'm driving the best car for the job.
Polo and 996 for me and my wife. No commute. Empty nesters. Still working with occasional business trip to mainland Europe and holiday cottage in N Wales. Polo for shopping and carrying; 996 for fun. Works for me. One car wouldn't do it.
Think I'll go and polish the garage queen now ....
Think I'll go and polish the garage queen now ....
Simples, 330d Touring for anything on public roads, fast enough to loose your licence (if you are stupid enough) and economical enough to suit most pockets, and a single seater for weekends - any other track car is just a compromise. Why spend a fortune on heavy slow stuff like Porsches, Ferraris which are pointless on public roads and slow on track?
Siko said:
E92 M3. Does it all....I know an earlier post said his didn't, but he's clearly very wrong
It is devastating on the open road, a family friendly (yes really!) coupe that has fitted in 4 plus a dog with ease and the comfiest commuter car I've ever used. It is horrendously expensive to fuel up but the smiles per gallon more than make up for it.....plus you can leave it on the street/Aldi carpark and most scum wouldn't know what it was anyway. Short of a mapped 335D
it's the best compromise of a daily drive/fun drive I can think of and excels at both, IMHO.
The M3 was replaced by:It is devastating on the open road, a family friendly (yes really!) coupe that has fitted in 4 plus a dog with ease and the comfiest commuter car I've ever used. It is horrendously expensive to fuel up but the smiles per gallon more than make up for it.....plus you can leave it on the street/Aldi carpark and most scum wouldn't know what it was anyway. Short of a mapped 335D
it's the best compromise of a daily drive/fun drive I can think of and excels at both, IMHO.130i - honestly it's far better suited to my daily driving needs @ 15k miles/year
Chimaera - totally immersive experience, much more of an 'occasion' when it comes out at weekends. Loud, scary fast and beautiful. I love tinkering and a significant portion of ownership enjoyment is 'looking after' it.
Trophy came later but it's just f
king hilarious to drive, more fun than any of the above.Current fleet excel in their roles, the M didn't. Best of all, I get all three for the price of one.
I think cars are all compromises, so I prefer to have multiple vehicles. But hey ho, the OP is asking about just the one.
On that basis, a car that covers all use cases? Well, I'd be looking at some kind of Wagon / Estate / Avant, to handle luggage / dogs / mountain bikes / furniture.
I'd prefer to have something AWD for trips away to the snow, and / or muddy fields. Lots of my work mates with dogs will end up in muddy fields, so they need good traction to get out.
Beyond that, I wouldnt want anything too flash due to the scourge of depreciation, and I also dont want attention from thieves, so that would rule out an expensive SUV.
I've been a big fan of rally cars, so a Subaru would fill this one-car brief.
Personally, I'd go for a debadged Forester STI, with a black-painted front mount intercooler, fronted by some black mesh, and a non-scoop bonnet, for the Q car stealthy look. You could park it anywhere and not worry about theft, but still use it to go almost anywhere, cart loads of shopping, and still have an enjoyable drive.
On that basis, a car that covers all use cases? Well, I'd be looking at some kind of Wagon / Estate / Avant, to handle luggage / dogs / mountain bikes / furniture.
I'd prefer to have something AWD for trips away to the snow, and / or muddy fields. Lots of my work mates with dogs will end up in muddy fields, so they need good traction to get out.
Beyond that, I wouldnt want anything too flash due to the scourge of depreciation, and I also dont want attention from thieves, so that would rule out an expensive SUV.
I've been a big fan of rally cars, so a Subaru would fill this one-car brief.
Personally, I'd go for a debadged Forester STI, with a black-painted front mount intercooler, fronted by some black mesh, and a non-scoop bonnet, for the Q car stealthy look. You could park it anywhere and not worry about theft, but still use it to go almost anywhere, cart loads of shopping, and still have an enjoyable drive.
Cruiser and weapon, please. I've tried having one car to do it all - didn't really work for me, although an E39 M5 came close. One car will almost never work for me - the lightweight, agile responses of a good B-road/track toy directly conflict with the space (weight) and refinement of something capable of munching long distances in comfort. If McLaren ever attempt a four-door saloon a la Panamera, then such a car might exist.
Money no object, right now my one car for all would be a Range Rover Sport SVR. Running costs aside, there's little it can't do, and it does many things very well. It's not even too ostentatious - until you press the start button, that is...
Money no object, right now my one car for all would be a Range Rover Sport SVR. Running costs aside, there's little it can't do, and it does many things very well. It's not even too ostentatious - until you press the start button, that is...
I went down the two car route
E39 daily - £3.5k back in 2011 still going strong cost eff all to run, no finance
mx5 - £850 fun car, autosolos, sprints , bit of drifting, track days and weekends
I have a family so the compromise was budget
If it had to be one car the subaru impreza estate would probably do it.
E39 daily - £3.5k back in 2011 still going strong cost eff all to run, no finance
mx5 - £850 fun car, autosolos, sprints , bit of drifting, track days and weekends
I have a family so the compromise was budget
If it had to be one car the subaru impreza estate would probably do it.
Pan Pan Pan said:
ORD said:
1 car fits all. No point wasting drives in st cars. Running two cars is expensive, too, if you don't drive many miles.
Or put another way, jack of all trades, master of none.t cars. Running two cars is expensive, too, if you don't drive many miles. I used to run a 520d and a Cerbera as a weekend car and then the 520d and a Z4M as a weekend car but swapped the two for the E92 M3 as my do it all car...no such thing sadly, the reasonable daily and nice weekend car works far better as far as I am concerned.
sandysinclair said:
Been running a Murcielago as a daily driver for 5 months. Fits 8 bags of shopping in the front boot , or six large scatter cushons, parking is easy once you adjust to the angles and allow 3.5 inches for the air ducts by the kerb. The girlfriend knows when you will be back home because she can hear you from 2miles away . As easy to drive as a golf. V12.. Sorted... The end.
I love hearing that people run cars like this as daily drivers .just fantastic ... i think its what it is all about , getting to know the car so well , all the bits that make a real car ..all the character ..good and bad and loving it
In the real world, I still think the E39 530i Touring remains the definitive answer to this. Amazingly chuckable for a 1700kg estate, big, roomy, fabulous engine, wonderful handling balance, firm but compliant ride quality, timelessly elegant looks, bombproof build quality... and that straight six that's happy to howl to redline will equally happily deliver mid-30s MPG in the cruise, even into low 40s if you're careful. There's been nothing like it since.
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